Wigle Wipes Up at 2021 American Craft Spirits Association Awards

Wigle Whiskey won 40, yes FORTY awards at the virtual 2021 American Craft Spirits Association Awards show last night. That includes six bronze medals, 17 silver medals and a gold in the Whiskey category alone.

But Wigle Whiskey wasn’t the only winner for the evening. Manatawny Still Works took home six medals including three silvers for whiskey. Revivalist Spirits made a solid showing with five medals and Washington County’s Liberty Pole Spirits added three medals to Pennsylvania’s medal count.

Delaware saw multiple medals from Dogfish Head Distillery and Painted Stave Distilling.

More analysis to follow.

Continue reading “Wigle Wipes Up at 2021 American Craft Spirits Association Awards”

Port Gin Returns with New Look at Manatawny

Manatawny Still Works - Port Barrel Finished Gin

Pottstown’s Manatawny Still Works is bringing back its pink-hued Port Finished Gin in time for Valentine’s Day. Previously released as “Zimbro” — the Portuguese word for juniper, the spirit recently was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Spirits of 2020.

The gin will be available for online pre-order starting on Friday, February 5th for $40 per 750 ml bottle. Pickup and delivery will be available from Manatawny’s Philadelphia and Pottstown locations beginning on Friday, February, 12th.

The gin is finished with Gandona Estate port barrels which bring out the juniper and add sweetness, mild oak and vanilla. Pennsy Local was able to get a sip this week and felt there was definitely more port tasted in this second release.

Earlier in the pandemic, Zimbro was the backbone of some exciting cocktails at Pennsy Local HQ, including in a very tasty number made with Wigle’s Saffron Amaro and orange.

Manatawny Has Two Thanksgiving Releases

Manatawny Still Works Bottled in Bond

Pottstown’s Manatawny Still Works has two bottle releases in time for your Thanksgiving feast. A year after releasing its first Bottled in Bond whiskey, the distillery is back with a second go-around, this one aged five years. Bottled in Bond is a kind of seal of quality and a technical term, meaning the whiskey has been distilled by one distiller, in one distilling season and aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse and bottled at 100 proof.

This year’s Bottled in Bond is Manatawny’s oldest whiskey released to date and is described as having, “pleasing notes of sour cherries mix with oatmeal raisin on the nose, reminiscent of cherry cobbler. Bright flavors of apricots and dates fade to a deeper caramel and seasoned oak character with a mellow, dry finish.”

Bottles of the 100 proof whiskey are $70 and can be pre-ordered for pickup or shipping across Pennsylvania.

Continue reading “Manatawny Has Two Thanksgiving Releases”

Manatawny Brings Back Maple Whiskey

Manatawny Maple Whiskey

On Friday, October 16th, Pottstown’s Manatawny Still Works is bringing back its Maple Whiskey. The Fall favorite will be available at the distillery, Philadelphia locations and from their online store. And for the first time, the Maple Whiskey will be available in more than 80 Fine Wine & Good Spirits shops around the state.

Manatawny collaborates with Pennsylvania’s Whiskey Hollow to make the whiskey. First the distillery lends used whiskey barrels to the maple syrup producer, where they age their maple syrup for up to a year. After the barrels are emptied, the syrup-soaked casks go back to the distillery and aging whiskey is added. Before bottling, Manatawny adds in some aged maple syrup to create a “decadent, slightly-sweet whiskey.” It makes for a fantastic Old Fashioned or if you’re feeling lazy, it works really well when poured over a large cube.

750 ml bottles of the 84 proof whiskey are $40.

Manatawny Announces Whiskey Aged in Mezcal Barrels

Manatawny Scorpiones Whiskey in Mezcal Barrels

For the past several days, Manatawny Still Works’ social media feeds have been featuring scorpions. Perhaps triggering for those with Arachnophobia but intriguing nonetheless. Today, the Pottstown distillery lets us in on what they’ve got planned. This Friday, September 25th, Manatawny is releasing Scorpiones, whiskey aged in Mezcal barrels.

Scorpiones, begins life as the distillery’s four-grain white whiskey and then aged in Scorpion Mezcal barrels to add extra layers of smoky-sweet toasted flavors. Suggestions are to sip it neat or mix it in to your favorite Mezcal cocktail. A suggestion that jives with Manatawny’s white whiskey, which often finds itself standing in for tequila in margarita-inspired cocktails.

The whiskey is $35 per 750 ml bottle, and weighs in at 90 proof. Scorpiones will be available at its Pottstown distillery, South Philadelphia Tasting Room and recently reopened stand at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia.

Manatawny Releases Collaboration with Sly Fox Brewing

Manatawny Still Works Releases Nihilist Stout Whiskey

Pottstown’s Manatawny Still Works is partnering up with its Circle of Progress neighbor, Sly Fox Brewery to release a new whiskey. The whiskey starts with Sly Fox’s Nihilist Stout without the hops. It is then distilled and aged for more than three years in American oak. The whiskey is described as having notes of coffee and sweet malt.

500 bottles will be available for $45 per 750 ml bottle. The distillery is hosting a kickoff event on Sunday, March 8th and its Passyunk Tasting Room at noon. In addition to bottles for sale there will also be tastings and cocktails plus baked goods by Philadelphia chef Monica Glass that will be featuring the whiskey.

Continue reading “Manatawny Releases Collaboration with Sly Fox Brewing”

Inquirer’s Craig LaBan Lists PA Spirits Among His Holiday Choices

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Craig LaBan lists Dad’s Hat’s Straight Rye and Manatawny’s Bottled in Bond in his list of the best whiskeys to buy this holiday season.

LaBan notes that age is helping both distilleries out, noting Dad’s Hat has recently bumped its Straight Rye from three to four years of age. He also notes that in Manatawny’s case, “[t]ime in a barrel is paying off for this rising distillery from Pottstown. “

Continue reading “Inquirer’s Craig LaBan Lists PA Spirits Among His Holiday Choices”

Manatawny Launching Exclusive Gin for Hungry Pigeon Restaurant

Hungry Pigeon in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia is routinely among the top restaurants in Philadelphia, most recently ranked #2 by Philadelphia magazine, and their cocktail program has utilized Manatawny Still Works’ gin heavily on its cocktail list. Now they’ve collaborated with the Pottstown distillery to create their own gin, aptly named Hungry PiGIN.

Hungry PiGIN will make its debut Thursday evening during the restaurant’s Prohibition Cocktail Party starting at 5 pm.

Continue reading “Manatawny Launching Exclusive Gin for Hungry Pigeon Restaurant”

Rarity Sale at Manatawny

Here’s a Black Friday sale worth doing a little stampeding for Manatawny Still Works is hosting a “Distiller’s Stash Sale” at their Pottstown distillery today they’re putting a lot of their low stock one-offs on sale

So if you’ve missed out on former releases like their Apple Brandy or the rare 3rd Anniversary Cask release, now is the chance to snag a bottle. And of course it won’t hurt to grab a bottle of the new Bottled in Bond release.

The Distiller’s Stash Sale is only available at the distillery. Doors open at noon.

Botttles available